Philip I and the 1,000th Anniversary of Rome
Philip I ('The Arab')
Philip I was born Marcus Julius Verus Philippus in Trachonitis, Arabia around 204 AD. His father was Marinus, an Arab chief of Roman Knightly rank. Due to his place of birth, he became known as Philip the Arab.
Philip was married to Otacilia Severa and together they had a son (Philip II or Junior) and possibly a daughter. The daughter's name is unknown. The existence of the daughter is uncertain and considering Philip's apparent devotion to his family it is unlikely that she would have completely escaped the notice of history. So her presence must be treated with some scepticism.
In 243 AD, as deputy praetorian prefect, he accompanied the young emperor Gordian III on his
Persian campaign to conquer Shapur I and relieve the captured provincial capital of Antioch. After a series of battles, Antioch was relieved and the Persian army in full retreat. However the fast pace of battle and a failure of the grain supply ships meant that the army ill-supplied and therefore in an increasingly foul mood.
During the winter of 243, either through luck or treachery, the praefect Timesitheus died and Philip succeded him. He was now in a position to influence an already disgruntled army and proceded to turn them against Gordian. (One report states that Gordian offered to resign as emperor and take a subordinate position under Philip. It was said that Philip left the decision up to the soldiers, with predictable results.)
On February 25, 244 the 19 year old emperor was murdered by his soldiers and Philip proclaimed emperor. Philip immediately declared his young son (age 7) Caesar, Otacilia Severa as Augusta, deified his father Marinus and placed his brother, Priscus, in charge of the eastern portion of the empire. It is clear that he was intent on founding a dynastic line. He also moved quickly to conclude the campaign in Persia in order to get back to Rome since a delay could mean the Senate would appoint another as emperor. A hasty treaty with the Persians was signed with some concessions and a payment of 20,000 aurei to Shapur. By July of 244 he was back in Rome and reported to the Senate that Gordian died of 'natural causes' (at least as natural as any Roman emperor could expect). In turn he was confirmed as the emperor.
The years of 245 - 247 AD saw a series of successful campaigns against the Germans and Dacians. It was also in 247 that Philip elevated his now 10 year old son to the rank of Augustus and co-emperor. The empire now had a double principate and the stage was set for the 1,000th anniversary celebration.
The Celebration
During the days of the Republic, the prolific writer Marcus Terentius Varro (116 BC - 21 BC) calculated that the 1,000th anniversary of Rome's founding would fall on April 21st, 248 AD. What method he used to determined the date has not been recorded, but then again, most Roman emperors needed little excuse to to have a party. After all, games were a way for the populace to forget their troubles and it was a way to generate good will towards the imperator. Most emperors realized that good will equaled a longer life span.....
Philip called for a magnificent celebration and spared no expense. The exact duration of the celebration is not recorded, but certainly a week would have been the minimum and 30 days not unusual. It is possible that the celebration was spread out over a period of time. The celebration started off with a traditional religious ceremony, the Ludi Saeculares (Secular Games). The Ludi Saeculares was one of the most solemn of Roman festivals celebrated only once per century or perhaps once in a given lifetime. (Although this once in a lifetime 'rule' was broken a number of times in the past most notably by the emperors Claudius and Nero.) Ceremonies were held over a period of 3 days in the Campius Martius, Capitol and Palatine Hills.
Games were held in the Circus Maximus and featured thousands of wild and exotic animals brought from
all over the empire. The coins of Philip from this period show lions, hippos and other African game. (Ironically, the animals were originally collected by the late emperor Gordian III for his planned Persian Victory Triumph.) Of course the animals were brought to the games not for display, but as active participants either against each other or human opponents. Not only animals fought in the Circus, but Gladiators were brought in by the thousands and fought in mortal combat. This combat occured on land and in mock naval battles.
In addition to the religious ceremonies and games, Philip also distributed gifts to the citzens of Rome most likely in the form of coins. This was known as a Congiarium. It was another was for Philip to ingratiate himself with the populace and ensure the continuation of his dynasty. The
congiarium may have been recorded on a coins of Philip and Philip II.
The Death of Philip
Soon after the Secular Games, the situation began to fall apart for Philip. At least 4 usurpers
arose in different provinces, all military men being proclaimed emperor by their soldiers. On the
German frontier first there was Pacatian, then Silbannacus on the Rhine and finally the little known Sponsianus. In the east, a more serious threat came from the revolt of Jotapian and his troops. The last was the most difficult to put down since Philip was unable to take care of it personally.
The revolts were eventually suppressed, but had the effect of shaking Philip's confidence. So much so that he attempted to resign as emperor. He was talked out of resigning by a senator and prefect of Rome by the name of Trajan Decius. (boo hiss) At this point, Philip made the most devastating mistake of his reign. He appointed Decius as commander to the Danubian frontier to suppress a German uprising and keep control of the rebellious soldiers. By the end of 248, Decius had restored order to the region and so impressed his formerly rebellious troops that in June 249 they hailed him as Imperator. He was eventually convinced to march on Rome.
The result was inevitable. From the north came Decius with his army headed towards Rome, from the south Philip marched to meet Decius. The 2 armies met in September or October at Verona and Philip, although said to have the larger army, was defeated. Some references state that he died in battle, others say that he was killed by his own soldiers. Either way, Philip was literally history. We do not know for certainty whether Philip II died with his father at Verona or was killed at a later time at Rome. References vary as to his fate.
History also does not definitively record the fate of Otacilia Severa or her unnamed daughter. One report states that she was murdered in Rome by the Praetorian Guard, while another mentions a rumor that she was allowed to quietly retire. By then, both Philip and her son were dead and with no chance of a revival of the dynasty, there would have been no need for her death. History may not say, but a
betting man would have given odds on her demise.
Coins Celebrating The Event
Philip produced a small variety of reverse types, most of which featured the animals that appeared in the games, to celebrate the anniversary of Rome. Among the animals we have a goat, lion, hippo, gazelle, stag, antelope and she-wolf. He also produced a pair of antoniniani featuring a temple with 6 columns and a cippus used to announce the Ludi Saeculares. Many of the types, such as the she-wolf and hippo, were also repeated in his bronze issues.
The reverse inscriptions fall into 2 main categories:
SAECVLARES AVGG. ('The Secular Games of the Augusti') and the coins feature the exotic animals
as well as the cippus. The animals in particular are very popular with collectors. Some of the animal reverses, such as the goat and gazelle, could be considered scarce.
SAECVLVM NOVVM (roughly translated as 'New Age') and features the 6 column temple which is either the Temple of Jupiter Capitolina or the Temple of Roma Aeterna, depending on which reference work you have. The type is relatively rare.
There is a third reverse that some reference works group with the SAECVLARES types. The AETERNITAS AVGG. antoninianus and sestertius which show an elephant with driver walking left. Vagi in particular mentions the type as associated with the anniversary noting that the elephant was an
'animal noted for its indelible memory and long life-span'.
And finally, the Congiarium held by Philip during the celebration may have been commemorated in this coin of his son, Philip II. The reverse reads 'LIBERALITAS AVGG. III' and pictures Philip and Philip II side by side seated on curule chairs.
Collecting History
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Philip I AR Antoninianus RSC 17
Radiate, draped bust right
'AETERNITAS AVGG.' - Elephant walking left, carrying driver
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Philip I AR Antoninianus RSC 172
Radiate, draped bust right
'SAECVLARES AVGG.' - Lion walking right
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Philip I AR Antoninianus RSC 193
Radiate, draped bust right
'SAECVLARES AVGG.' - Column inscribed with COS III
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Philip I AR Antoninianus RSC 198
Radiate, draped bust right
'SAECVLVM NOVVM' - Temple with 6 columns, statue standing in center
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Otacilia Severa AR Antoninianus
Diademed bust on crescent right
'SAECVLARES AVGG.' - Hippo advancing right. 'IIII' in exergue.
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Other Coins By Philip and His Family
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Philip I AR Antoninianus Sear 2556
Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
'FIDES MILITVM' - Four Legionary standards
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Philip II AR Antoninianus RSC 32
Radiate, draped bust right. 'M. IVL. PHILIPPVS CAES.'
Sprinkler, simpulum, jug, knife and lituus. 'PIETAS AVGVSTOR'
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Philip II AR Antoninianus RSC 17
Radiate, draped bust right
'LIBERALITAS AVGG. III' - Philip I and II seated side by side
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Philip II Sestertius
Bare head, draped bust right
'PRINICIPI IVVENTIS' - Philip II advancing right, holding globe
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